Digital asset transaction platform and system

Abstract

A system managing software program transactions and use has an Internet platform with a server and a processor coupled to a data repository, executing software providing interactive interfaces to users, stored profiles for registered users of the system, and an inventory of the software programs for sale or rent, each software program defined by a Smart Contract (SC) in a Blockchain. The system is characterized in that a registered user selects a software program, and the system interacts with the registered user to agree to a price and terms of use, the agreed price and terms of use are instantiated by the system in a non-fungible token (NFT) minted by the SC, the NFT is populated with critical properties, the NFT is associated with a profile for the registered user, recorded in a Software Title Ledger, and the software program is provided to the registered user ready to execute.

1 . A system for managing software program transactions and use, comprising:
 an Internet platform having a server with a processor coupled to a data repository, the processor executing operating software providing interactive interfaces to users employing computerized devices coupled to the platform through Internet Service Providers (ISPs);   stored profiles for registered users of the system;   an inventory of the software programs for sale or rent, with titles and characteristics recorded in the data repository, each software program defined by a Smart Contract (SC) in a Blockchain;   characterized in that a registered user, through individual ones of the interactive interfaces, selects a software program, and the system interacts with the registered user to agree to a price and terms of use, the agreed price and terms of use are instantiated by the system in a non-fungible token (NFT) minted by the SC, the NFT is populated with critical properties, the NFT is associated with a profile for the registered user, recorded in a Software Title Ledger, and the software program is provided to the registered user ready to execute.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the software program is provided to the registered user by a download process through the registered user's Internet connection. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the critical properties comprise at least software program title and version, owner ID, initial purchase price, date and time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the critical properties further comprise an end-of-life (EOL) date and time for the software program, amortized value and identifiers for tracking state of the NFT. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising functionality wherein, as a user executes the software program, the platform checks the NFT properties of the software program against the Software Title Ledger. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  comprising functionality wherein, at EOL, the software program is removed from the user's platform. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the registered user ceases use prior to the EOL, and the software program is listed as a used software program, and properties of the NFT are altered accordingly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a registered user purchases a used software program, and NFT properties are altered accordingly. 
     
     
         9 . A method for managing software program transactions and use, comprising:
 logging in as a registered user to an Internet-connected platform having a server with a processor coupled to a data repository, the processor executing software providing interactive interfaces to registered users employing computerized devices coupled to the platform through Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the data repository storing profiles for registered users and an inventory of software programs for sale or rent by a host of the platform, with titles and characteristics;   negotiating a purchase or a rental of an individual one of the inventory of software programs by the registered user through individual ones of the interactive interfaces;   instantiating a license for the software program as a non-fungible token (NFT) minted by a Smart Contract created on a Blockchain, defining permanent and variable properties for the software program, and recording the license on a Software Title Ledger;   populating the NFT with critical properties;   associating the NFT with the registered user's profile; and   providing the software program to the registered user ready to execute.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising providing the software program to the registered user by a download process through the registered user's Internet connection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the critical properties comprise at least software program title and version, owner ID, initial purchase price, date and time. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the critical properties further comprise an end-of-life (EOL) date and time for the software program, amortized value and identifiers for tracking state of the NFT. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising functionality wherein, as a user executes the software program, the platform checks the NFT properties of the software program against the Software Title Ledger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  comprising functionality removing the software program from the user's platform at EOL. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  comprising the registered user ceasing to use the software program prior to the EOL, and the software program being listed as a used software program, and altering properties of the NFT accordingly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising purchasing a used software program by a registered user, and altering NFT properties accordingly.